A mixed hedgerow is typically found lining winding country roads, or serving as a boundary on farmland. However, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t recreate this valuable habitat in your garden. A mixed native hedge provides flowers for pollinators, leaves for caterpillars and fruit or nuts for birds and small mammals, not to mention shelter for a huge range of species. You can make it better still by adding climbing plants such as honeysuckle to clamber through the hedge, and plant spring-flowering foxgloves, cowslips and sweet violets at the base. You’ll have wildlife queuing up to take up residence in your garden.

More on attracting wildlife to your garden:

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